<p>Former Greek president Christos Sartzetakis -- who went from prosecutor to torture victim and film hero during the country's military dictatorship, before becoming head of state -- has died aged 92.</p>.<p>Sartzetakis, who was president from 1985 to 1990, died on Thursday of acute respiratory failure, the Athens hospital treating him said.</p>.<p>Born in Greece's second city Thessaloniki in 1929, he rose to prominence as a prosecutor in 1963 when he conducted an investigation into the murder by right-wing extremists of left-wing lawmaker Grigoris Lambrakis.</p>.<p>His pivotal role in convicting those behind the killing of Lambrakis, which sparked a political crisis, was immortalised in Costa Gavras's 1969 film "Z".</p>.<p>During the 1967-1974 Rule of the Colonels, Sartzetakis was forced from his post by the military junta for resisting political pressure, arrested, tortured and jailed without trial.</p>.<p>After the country returned to civilian rule, he became a supreme court justice and was nominated president by the socialist PASOK party in 1985.</p>.<p>Current head of state Katerina Sakellaropoulou said he had been "a judge of great integrity... at a dark time for the country and for democracy".</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>Former Greek president Christos Sartzetakis -- who went from prosecutor to torture victim and film hero during the country's military dictatorship, before becoming head of state -- has died aged 92.</p>.<p>Sartzetakis, who was president from 1985 to 1990, died on Thursday of acute respiratory failure, the Athens hospital treating him said.</p>.<p>Born in Greece's second city Thessaloniki in 1929, he rose to prominence as a prosecutor in 1963 when he conducted an investigation into the murder by right-wing extremists of left-wing lawmaker Grigoris Lambrakis.</p>.<p>His pivotal role in convicting those behind the killing of Lambrakis, which sparked a political crisis, was immortalised in Costa Gavras's 1969 film "Z".</p>.<p>During the 1967-1974 Rule of the Colonels, Sartzetakis was forced from his post by the military junta for resisting political pressure, arrested, tortured and jailed without trial.</p>.<p>After the country returned to civilian rule, he became a supreme court justice and was nominated president by the socialist PASOK party in 1985.</p>.<p>Current head of state Katerina Sakellaropoulou said he had been "a judge of great integrity... at a dark time for the country and for democracy".</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>